Natural Antibiotics

Many easily obtained foods and herbs have powerful immune boosting and infection fighting properties. Try to include as many of these in your diet as possible regularly. Some of the best antiobiotics are listed below:

Garlic is one of the most powerful antibiotics. Once garlic is chopped or crushed, the active component allicin is formed. Allicin has antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic activity. Studies have shown garlic to be effective against Candida, Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica, H. pylori and Staphylococcus aureus. Populations that consume a lot of garlic have lower rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cooking garlic damages some of the therapeutic principles, so it is best eaten raw.

Onion and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage) contain organosulfur. These natural sulphur compounds have antibiotic and antifungal properties. Another form of organic sulphur you can include in your diet is called Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM). This compound assists your immune system to fight infections and is needed for phase 2 detoxification by the liver. MSM can be obtained as a supplement in powder form (MSM with Vitamin C).

Olive Leaf – the active ingredient in olive leaf is oleuropein. Studies have shown that olive leaf has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Olive leaf is excellent for the symptoms of colds and flu, as well as gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tract infections. Olive leaf extract can be taken in capsule form or as a liquid. It is more effective when combined with another powerful immune boosting herb called Andrographic paniculata, and zinc.

Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which studies have demonstrated is antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal; it is excellent for the immune system. Coconut fat has received a lot of bad publicity because it is high in saturated fat, but we now know that the fats in coconut are medium chain triglycerides; these do not raise cholesterol or contribute to heart disease. Clinical trials are currently being done on the effectiveness of lauric acid in lowering the viral load in HIV/AIDS patients. Include coconut milk and coconut cream in your cooking. If you use coconut fat for cooking or as a dressing, make sure you purchase unrefined oil.

Berberis (common name barberry) is a herb which has been used to treat diarrhoea in China and India since ancient times. The stem bark and root bark of berberis are used. The active ingredient of berberis is a bitter, yellow alkaloid called berberine. This substance increases the flow of bile from the liver; helping to cleanse the liver and improve digestion. Berberine has demonstrated antimicrobial activity against a variety of organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, Candida, protozoans, helminthes (worms) and Chlamydia. It is effective in treating diarrhoea caused by E. coli infection.

Wormwood which is also known as Artemisia has traditionally been used to rid the body of intestinal worms and parasites. It also stimulated bile flow in the liver and promotes bowel regularity. New research has shown that wormwood may have anti-malarial effects.

Thyme – it is believed that this herb comes from the Greek word thumus, which means courage. Thyme was once used to give soldiers courage and invigoration. In modern times, it is recognised that thyme has powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effects. Thymol is the powerful antiseptic found in thyme. It is an excellent treatment for many types of infections, and has even shown effectiveness against Helicobacter pylori infections.